02/26/2014

Peace calls on Mullins to ask for FitzSimmonds to step down

The Virginia GOP has dealt with a week or so of drama that has had very little to do with their governing.

Among the many issues is an internal flap amongst party leaders you may not have ever heard of. However one of those leaders, Bob FitzSimmonds the party's treasurer has crossed a line that has lead to some calling for his resignation.

Julian Walker from the Virginian Pilot has a full break down of the squabble between Fitzsimmons and Del. Barbara Comstock the leading candidate to replace Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia's 10th Congressional district.

The episode unfolded Tuesday night during an online discussion of a JH Politics blog article about donor activity in the hotly contested Republican nomination process for the 10th Congressional District in Northern Virginia.

The race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf has drawn considerable GOP candidate interest, including from Fairfax County Del. Barbara Comstock and Prince William County Del. Bob Marshall.

It was Comstock's name that elicited FitzSimmonds' online outburst.

Responding to a female commenter who voiced support for Comstock and touted the strength of GOP women voters, FitzSimmonds posted "I have nothing against Barbara Comstock but, I hate sexist (expletive)."

One definition for the word he used is a vulgar term for female genitalia. An image of the comment is posted below.

FitzSimmonds later deleted that post amid criticism from fellow Republican commenters and apologized:

"I posted something earlier and used an inappropriate word. I would not have used such a word deliberately and I apologize for anyone who was offended," he wrote on Facebook Tuesday evening. "I was trying to say that I don't appreciate sexist stereotypes and apparently used one myself. I have removed the post."

Late Wednesday night Del. Chris Peace (R-Hanover) an ally of Comstock gave me an advanced copy of a letter he plans to send to GOP Party Chairman Pat Mullins where he asks for Mullins to demand FitzSimmonds resignation.

"I am writing to request that you once again demonstrate your willingness to tackle difficult issues head on for the good of the party," said Peace. "Specifically, I write that you request the resignation of Mr. Bob FitzSimmonds from the State Central Committee."

I reached out to party officials tonight to see how they are handling the FitzSimmonds situation but haven't heard back at the late hour. I will update when I learn more.

The full text of the Peace letter can be found after the break.

Dear Mr. Chairman,

Thank you for the leadership you have provided the Republican Party of Virginia in recent years. I am writing to request that you once again demonstrate your willingness to tackle difficult issues head on for the good of the party. Specifically, I write that you request the resignation of Mr. Bob FitzSimmonds from the State Central Committee. As Chairman, I further request that you initiate proceedings for formal censure for his lewd and lacivious conduct unbecoming of a party official.

By now, you have seen and heard of the sexist and crude internet based commentaries by State Central Committee Member FitzSimmonds. The bottomline is that the comments regarding Del. Barbara Comstock were disgusting and highly offensive. They degrade women and are unbecoming of a party official. His public comments do not represent my values nor the party I represent. As a party leader, I hope you will agree with me that we cannot allow this type of behavior in the leadership of the Republican Party of Virginia. Our Party Plan requires that party members be held to higher standards. We elected officials and others in party leadership should maintain an even higher sense of decorum and comport ourselves honorably. Mr. FitzSimmonds has fallen short of this standard.

If Mr. FitzSimmonds wishes to regain any public esteem he may have maintained prior to this incident, then he will voluntarily resign his position and issue an apology. His comments were callous and disrespectful not just to a member of this party who is honorably serving her district and our Commonwealth, but by extension to all women. As a Republican elected official and father of a young girl, I find sexism such as this deeply disturbing and ask for immediate action. I look forward to your response as soon as practicable.